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Novak Djokovic, who won a record seventh title at last year’s ATP Finals, has announced he will not defend his title at the season-ending tournament due to an ongoing injury. Last year, Djokovic won the tournament by defeating Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final, adding to his impressive 24 Grand Slam titles. However, he shared on Instagram that he would be unable to play this year, expressing disappointment to fans who were looking forward to seeing him compete.

"I was really looking forward to being there, but due to an injury, I won’t be playing next week," the 37-year-old posted. He also wished all participants a successful tournament.

Guaranteed spots for Ruud, De Minaur, and Rublev

Djokovic’s withdrawal has impacted other players' chances to qualify for the ATP Finals. His absence means that Norway’s Casper Ruud, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, and Russia’s Andrey Rublev will now secure spots in the tournament regardless of their current results. This news brings relief to De Minaur, who was close to missing out after losing to Holger Rune in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters last week. For De Minaur, this will be his first appearance in the prestigious ATP Finals.

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The lineup for the ATP Finals, scheduled to take place from November 10 to 17, will include world number one Jannik Sinner, twice champion Alexander Zverev, four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and American Taylor Fritz, along with the newly qualified players.

A challenging year for Djokovic

While Djokovic captured his first Olympic gold medal this year by beating Carlos Alcaraz in Paris, he has not managed to add any ATP titles or Grand Slam victories to his record in 2024. Despite these setbacks, his commitment to return soon suggests that fans will see him back on the court in future tournaments, with hopes of adding more titles to his legendary career.

The tennis world will undoubtedly feel Djokovic’s absence, and fans are already anticipating his next appearance once he fully recovers from his injury.